Most people don't think about the drains outside their house until water is standing on the patio or the yard turns into a pond. In Riverside, that usually happens at the worst time: the first real storm of the season, after months of dry weather let dirt, leaves and roots settle into the lines.
Here's how to tell when an outdoor drain is clogged, what usually causes it, and how a plumber clears it.
What counts as an outdoor drain
Your property can have several drains outside the house, and they don't all connect to the same place:
- Yard and area drains: the grates in lawns, planters and low spots that carry rainwater away.
- Patio and driveway drains: channel or trench drains in concrete that catch runoff before it reaches the garage or the house.
- Downspout lines: underground pipes that carry roof water from the gutters out to the street or a drain box.
- The sewer cleanout: a capped pipe, usually near the house or the front yard, that gives access to your main sewer line. It isn't a rain drain, but it's often the first place a sewer backup shows up outside.
Signs your outdoor drain is clogged
- Water pools around a grate or in a low spot for hours after it stops raining.
- Water bubbles up out of a drain instead of going down it.
- Mud, leaves or soil collect on the grate after every storm.
- Downspouts overflow at the bottom, or the ground stays soggy where the line runs.
- A gurgling sound or a sewer smell near the cleanout, or water seeping out from under its cap.
That last one matters most. A rain drain that backs up makes a mess. A cleanout that weeps or smells can mean the main sewer line is blocked, and that can back up into the house.
What clogs outdoor drains
- Dirt and silt. Every storm washes soil into the lines. Over a dry summer it packs down and hardens.
- Leaves, needles and yard debris. Grates catch some, but small pieces get through and build up at bends.
- Tree roots. Roots grow toward moisture and can work into joints and cracks in underground lines. Once inside, they catch everything else that comes down the pipe.
- Landscaping and construction. New planters, pavers or concrete work can bury a drain, crush a line or send gravel and sand into it.
Why the garden hose usually doesn't fix it
Running a hose into a clogged yard drain can push loose debris a little further down, but it rarely clears packed silt or roots. A plumber's snake can punch a hole through a clog, which gets water moving again for a while. When the line is packed along its length or has roots growing into it, the clog tends to come back.
When hydro jetting is the right call
Hydro jetting sends high-pressure water through the line to scour the inside of the pipe wall, not just open a hole in the clog. It's often the better choice for outdoor lines because:
- It flushes out the silt and debris along the whole run, not just at one spot.
- It cuts through roots that have grown into the line.
- It leaves the pipe clearer, so the next storm doesn't plug it right back up.
Before jetting, a camera inspection can show what's actually in the line. If a pipe is cracked, crushed or separated at a joint, jetting won't fix that, and you'll know whether you're looking at a cleaning or a repair. Read more about hydro jetting and how it compares in snaking or hydro jetting.
Simple things that help between cleanings
- Clear grates of leaves and dirt before the rainy season and after big storms.
- Keep soil and mulch from washing into drains when you work on planters.
- Watch where trees are planted relative to underground lines.
- Have outdoor lines checked if water keeps pooling in the same spot every storm.
When to call a plumber
Call if water is pooling against the house or garage, if a drain backs up every time it rains, or if you notice water, sludge or a sewer smell at your cleanout. Those are signs the problem is deeper in the line, and catching it before the next storm can save your foundation, your flooring and your yard.
Rooter Warrior Plumbing & Drain Cleaning clears yard, patio, driveway and downspout drains and main sewer lines for homes and businesses across Riverside County. Learn more about our drain cleaning and sewer service, or call (951) 410-5108.
Questions about your plumbing? Call (951) 410-5108 or book online. We're open 24 hours Monday through Friday.